In the United States, the record for bordering the most other states is a tie between Missouri and Tennessee. Each of these states is bordered by eight other states. Missouri’s neighbors are Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska. Tennessee’s neighbors are Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Missouri. This central location made both states crucial 'gateways' during the westward expansion of the 19th century. Interestingly, Maine has the fewest neighbors, bordering only one other state (New Hampshire), making it the most 'isolated' state in the contiguous 48.